Seaman’s Widow Claims Asbestos Caused Husband’s Death
The widow of a merchant mariner is suing several defendant companies claiming that her husband was exposed to asbestos, cigarettes and tobacco, as a result of which he developed a pulmonary disease that caused his death.
Katrine Davalie individually and on behalf of the estate of Tookie A. Davalie has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on July 9 in federal court in New Orleans.
A-C Product Liability Trust, ACandS Inc., Acorn Iron & Supply Co., Alcoa Steamship Company Inc., Anchor Packing Co., Argo International Corp., Auburn Pump Division of General Signal Corp., Bethlehem Steel Corp., Black & Decker Corp., Boyd Co AB, Bryan Steam Corp., Champion International Corp., Chesterton Co AW, Coffin Pump Inc., Coltec Industries, Inc., Combustion Engineering Inc., Conhagen Inc., Alfred, Crane Co., Crosby Steam and Valve Co., Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc., Delta Steamship Lines, Inc., Dover Resources Inc., Durabla Manufacturing Co., Durametallic Corp., EG&G Sealol Inc., Ellicott Machine Corp. International, Elliott Turbomachinery Co. Inc., Ernst Gage Co., Everlasting Valve Co., Excelsior Inc., FKI Industries Inc., Federal-Mogul Corp., Fel-Pro Inc., Felt Products Inc., Flintkote Co., Foster Wheeler Co., Garlock Inc., Gatke Corp., General Cable Co., General Electric Co., General Refractories, Goodall Rubber Co., Goodrich B.F. a/k/a Goodrich Corp., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Gould Pumps Inc., Greene Tweed & Co, Gulf Engineering Co. Inc., Hajoca Corp., Harbison-Walker Refractories Group, Home Rubber Co., IMO Industries Inc., Indian Head Industries Inc., Ingersoll-Dresser Pump, Ingersoll-Rand Corp., James Walker Manufacturing Co., Janos Industrial Insulation Corp., John Crane Inc., Robert A. Keasbey Co., La Favorite Industries Inc., Melrath Gasket Inc. Mortell Co., Mount Washington Tanker Co., Noland Co., North American Refractories Co., Norton Co., Ocean Transportation Co., Okonite Co., Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., Owens-Illinois Inc., PPG Industries Inc., Pecora Corp., Phoenix Specialty Manufacturing Co. Inc., Pittsburgh Corning Corp., Plibrico Co., Preferred Utilities Manufacturing Corp., Quaker Rubber Co., Rhopac Inc., Rockbestos Co., Sea-Ro Packing Co. Inc., Selby Battersby and Co., Sherwin-Williams Co., Sika Corp., Skinner Engine Co. Inc., USX Corp., Uniroyal Chemical Co. Inc., Vellumoid Inc., Viking Pump Inc., Vogt Machine Co., Henry Walworth Co., Warren Pumps Inc., Waterman Steamship Corp., Westinghouse Electric Corp. and Zimmerman Packing & Mfg. Inc. are the companies named as defendants in the case.
The complaint says Davalie was continually exposed to fibers of friable asbestos, causing him to inhale the carcinogenic asbestos dust. The plaintiff argues that the companies maintained their vessel in an insecure, unseaworthy condition causing the crewmen to be exposed directly to toxic chemicals and carcinogens including friable asbestos and indirectly to cigarette and tobacco smoke.
Katrine Davalie is seeking damages for loss of earnings and earning capacity, for the pain and suffering her husband experienced when he was alive, and for medical expenses. She is also asking for exemplary and punitive damages.
U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance will preside over the case.
